Trump Threatens to Deploy ICE to Airports to Assist TSA Amid DHS Shutdown

President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum threatening to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to US airports beginning Monday, March 23, 2026, unless congressional Democrats immediately agree to fund the Department of Homeland Security.

“PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Travelers across the country are reacting to President Trump's announcement that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will begin assisting airport security operations on Monday as the Transportation Security Administration continues to struggle with staffing shortages during the partial government shutdown”

ABC

The threat came in a series of Truth Social posts where Trump stated he would move 'brilliant and patriotic ICE Agents to the Airports where they will do Security like no one has ever seen before' if Democrats did not allow for 'Just and Proper Security at our Airports.'

ABC

This dramatic escalation comes as the DHS shutdown, which began on February 14, 2026, has entered its fifth week.

Approximately 50,000 TSA officers have been working without pay during this shutdown while Republicans and Democrats remain deadlocked over funding negotiations.

White House Border Czar Tom Homan later clarified that ICE agents would assist TSA with tasks such as moving security lines along and guarding exit doors, though the exact deployment plan was still being worked out.

The DHS shutdown has created a severe staffing crisis at airports across the country, with Transportation Security Administration officers increasingly calling in sick or quitting as they face financial hardship from missing paychecks.

According to Department of Homeland Security statements, over 10 percent of TSA officers called in sick on more than half of the past seven days.

CBC.ca

More than 400 TSA workers have resigned since the shutdown began on February 14.

DHS officials warn that both resignations and call-outs are expected to 'significantly increase' as the shutdown continues.

The staffing shortages have resulted in nightmarish security lines stretching for hours at major airports, with travelers reporting wait times of up to three hours at locations like LaGuardia Airport in New York.

This crisis has been further exacerbated by the influx of spring break travelers, creating mounting pressure on both political parties to reach a resolution to end the funding impasse that has left essential security personnel working without compensation.

Trump's proposal to deploy ICE agents to airports has drawn sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers, civil liberties advocates, and immigration advocacy groups who question the legality and appropriateness of using immigration enforcement personnel for airport security duties.

“• ICE agents deployed: President Donald Trump said ICE agents will head to US airports Monday, placing border czar Tom Homan in charge of the effort”

CNN

Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal condemned the plan as 'another reckless, lawless threat to misuse ICE agents,' stating that Trump 'seems to have no concept of what the limits are on ICE, and I think America would be absolutely appalled to see ICE agents roaming through airports, just as they've been breaking down doors at homes.'

Representative Bennie Thompson, the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, went further, accusing Trump of 'manufacturing chaos at airports for political leverage' and warned that putting ICE agents in travel checkpoints would bring a 'tool of fascism' to America.

The criticism stems from the fact that ICE agents are specifically trained for immigration enforcement and are not qualified for airport security screening duties.

These duties require extensive training for tasks such as operating x-ray machines, conducting bag checks, and performing pat-downs.

The broader political context reveals that the DHS shutdown is not merely a funding dispute but a battle over immigration enforcement policies and reforms.

Democrats have refused to provide more DHS funding until Republicans agree to various reforms related to deployment, training, and management of ICE and Customs and Border Protection agents.

Devdiscourse

The impasse was fueled by widespread outrage over the 'intrusive and violent conduct of federal agents in Minneapolis—where they killed two US citizens and assaulted and detained many more,' which contributed to the recent ouster of former Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem.

Democratic lawmakers also seek to curb ICE's 'rampant use of surveillance technology' and ensure the rights of states and lawmakers to investigate alleged human rights abuses at immigrant detention centers.

While ICE remains funded at 'unheard-of levels' by the Republican-controlled Congress, the shutdown has frozen other DHS activities, including the processing of paychecks for TSA staff who are considered essential employees.

This has created what experts describe as 'serious trouble' for the agency and raised concerns about national security infrastructure.

As the shutdown crisis intensifies, bipartisan negotiations have stalled with few signs of immediate resolution.

“- Trump threatens deploying ICE agents to airports amid DHS shutdown”

International Business Times Singapore

Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced that Republicans are 'hitting pause' on funding talks while waiting for Democrats to respond to the latest offer, and there are few indications that lawmakers will reach an agreement before Friday's deadline or ahead of Congress's scheduled recess.

International Business Times Singapore

The Trump administration has framed the situation as a security imperative, with Trump posting that ICE agents would 'continue arrests of illegal immigrants' during their airport deployment, particularly targeting those 'coming from Somalia—a country he has repeatedly criticized.'

Billionaire Elon Musk offered to cover TSA paychecks 'during this funding impasse that is negatively affecting the lives of so many Americans at airports throughout the country,' though DHS, TSA, and Musk representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Historically, Homeland Security has shifted resources across agencies during emergency staffing shortages, but experts suggest that while using ICE agents for airport security 'may be slower than using trained people, it would be better than having nobody,' highlighting the unprecedented nature of this crisis.